Optical cable exit trough

ABSTRACT

A cable exit trough is mountable to a lateral trough section either during initial assembly of the cable routing system, or at a later date. The exit trough includes a bracket portion mountable to the top edge of one of the sides of the lateral trough section. Two lead-ins are provided to lead the cable in an upward direction from the lateral trough section to the exit trough. The exit trough includes an exit trough portion extending from the bracket portion upwardly away from the lateral trough section. The exit trough portion includes a convexly curved bottom trough surface, and two convexly curved upstanding sides. The exit trough portion and the lead-ins define a cable pathway from the lateral trough section to an exit point of the exit trough portion which can either lead downwardly relative to the lateral trough section, or horizontally.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a system for the management and routing ofoptical fiber cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the telecommunications industry, the use of optical fibers for signaltransmissions is accelerating. With the increased utilization of opticalfiber systems, optical fiber cable management requires industryattention. One area where optical fiber management is necessary is therouting of optical fibers from one piece of optical fiber equipment toanother. For example, in a telecommunications facility, optical fibercables may be routed between fiber distribution equipment and opticalline terminating equipment. In buildings and other structures whichcarry such equipment, the cable routing can take place in concealedceiling areas or in any other manner to route cables from one locationto another.

When routing optical fibers, it is desirable that any routing systemwill be readily modifiable and adaptable to changes in equipment needs.Accordingly, a routing system is not practical which would require ahigh capital outlay and which could not be readily adapted to changes ina customer's needs. Namely, if routing paths, once established, areforever fixed, the system cannot adapt. Also, and perhaps mostimportant, any routing system must protect optical fibers from damage.In the use of optical fibers, it is recognized that the fibers shouldnot be bent beyond a minimum radius of curvature. For example, it iscommonly recognized that optical fibers should not be bent in a radiusof less than 1.5 inches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, a cablerouting system is disclosed for routing optical fiber cables betweenoptical transmission equipment. The system includes a lateral troughsection configured for defining a cable pathway. An exit trough ismountable to the lateral trough section to provide a cable exit pathwayfrom the lateral trough section. The exit trough includes a bracketportion mountable to a top edge of the lateral trough section. Twocurved lead-ins on opposite ends of the bracket portion each define acable pathway leading to an exit trough portion extending from a middleof the bracket portion in a direction away from the lateral troughsection. The exit trough portion includes a convexly curved bottomtrough surface, and two convexly curved upstanding sides on oppositesides of the bottom trough surface. The exit trough defines a cablepathway leading upwardly and away from the lateral trough section. Theexit trough is mountable to the lateral trough section withoutmodification to the lateral trough section. The exit trough can beplaced generally at any location along the lateral trough section, andcan be placed during initial system setup, or at a later time as theneed arises for an exit pathway from the lateral trough section, such aswhen new optical transmission equipment is added to the system. At leastone fastener secures the bracket portion to the lateral trough section.The exit trough may include a downspout portion defining a downwardlydirected cable pathway, or a horizontal portion defining a horizontallydirected cable pathway, or other directional pathway as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, front, and left side perspective view of a lateraltrough section and an exit trough mounted thereto according to onepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom, back, and right side perspective view of the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the first embodiment, and showing the lateraltrough section in cross-section through a middle of the lateral troughsection.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a left cross-sectional side view through the center of thelateral trough section and through the exit trough.

FIG. 9 is a top, front, and left side perspective view of a lateraltrough section and an exit trough mounted thereto according to thesecond preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a bottom, back, and right side perspective view of the secondembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a back view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the second embodiment, and showing thelateral trough section in cross-section through a middle of the lateraltrough section.

FIG. 13 is a left side view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a left cross-sectional side view through the center of thelateral trough section and through the exit trough.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, a first embodiment of an exit trough 100 isshown mounted to a lateral trough section 20. Lateral trough section 20defines a cable pathway 22 for routing optical fiber cables betweenlocations. Lateral trough section 20 and exit trough 100 can be part ofa cable routing system typically within a structure, such as a buildinghaving optical fiber signal transmitting equipment. Lateral troughsection 20 typically is suspended from a ceiling structure by anysuitable means (not shown). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,067,678 and 5,316,243disclose various cable routing systems, including lateral troughsections like lateral trough section 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. Exittrough 100 is not only usable with lateral trough section 20 shown inFIGS. 1-8, but also with other cable routing systems disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,067,678 and 5,316,243, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference, and other cable routing systems.

Generally, lateral trough section 20 includes first and secondupstanding sides 24, 26, and a bottom 28 extending therebetween anddefining cable pathway 22. Side 24 includes a top edge 30. Opposite side26 also includes similar top edge 32. Lateral trough section 20 includesa plurality of attachment members 34 on an outside portion for use inattaching lateral trough sections 20 together end to end, or addingother system hardware.

As will be described below, exit trough 100 mounts to lateral troughsection 20 adjacent to top edge 30 of side 24 through attachment member34. Exit trough 100 creates a cable exit pathway from lateral troughsection 20. Exit trough 100 includes a bracket portion 102 including anouter projecting member 104, an inner projecting member 106, and aconnecting member 108. Bracket portion 102 generally defines a U-shapefor receipt of a portion of side 24 such that top edge 30 is positionedadjacent to connecting member 108. Exit trough 100 conveniently andsecurely mounts to lateral trough section 20 via one or more fasteners170 positioned through outer projecting member 104 and engaged withattachment member 34 of lateral trough section 20, as shown in FIGS. 2,3, and 5-8. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, outer projecting member 104includes separate spaced apart portions 104 a, 104 b, 104 c.Alternatively, the individual portions 104 a-c could be constructed as asingle piece. Portion 104 a includes a slot 172 for receipt of fastener170 during assembly. The other portions 104 b and 104 c include similarslots.

For protection of the optical fiber cables, inner projecting member 106of bracket portion 102 includes tapered ends 110, 112, and a taperedmiddle 114. Bracket portion 102 generally extends from a first end 116to a second end 118. A middle 120 is positioned between the first andsecond ends 116, 118. At first and second ends 116, 118, two cablelead-ins 124, 134 are provided. First lead-in 124 includes an uppersurface portion 126 having an upwardly curved shape. A downwardlydepending flange 128 extends toward bottom 28 of lateral trough section20. Flange 128 is spaced apart from inner projecting member 106 ofbracket portion 102 to define a cable pathway 130. Second lead-in 134 atan opposite end of bracket portion 102 faces in an opposite direction tofirst lead-in 124. Second lead-in 134 includes a similarly configuredupwardly curved surface 136, and a downwardly depending flange 138defining a cable pathway 140 for cables entering exit trough 100 from anopposite end of lateral trough section 20.

Exit trough 100 includes an exit trough portion 144 extending frombracket portion 102 at middle 120 away from lateral trough section 20.Exit trough portion 144 includes a bottom trough surface 146 andupstanding sides 148, 150 on opposite sides of bottom trough surface146. Generally bottom trough surface 146 extends upwardly and away fromtop edge 30 of lateral trough section 20, and includes a convex shape.Upstanding sides 148, 150 extend from each respective lead-in 124, 134,and also define convex shapes. Exit trough portion 144 defines a cablepathway 152 linked to cable pathway 22 of lateral trough section 20 viacable pathways 130, 140 of lead-ins 124, 134.

In exit trough 100, exit trough portion 144 links lateral trough section20 to a downspout 160. Downspout 160 generally provides a cable pathwayfor cable exiting in a downward direction relative to lateral troughsection 20. Downspout 160 is supported by two side ribs 164 and a centerrib 166 connected to bracket portion 104 b.

With exit trough 100 mounted to lateral trough section 20, cableextending generally horizontally to the ground through lateral troughsection 20 is allowed to route upwardly and away from lateral troughsection 20, and then to route downwardly through downspout 160 forconnection to optical transmission equipment, or other uses. Downspout160 is connectable via any suitable means to other cable routingcomponents, such as vertical troughs or conduit, as desired. The variouscurves provided with exit trough 100 help protect the optical fibercables from being bent beyond a minimum radius of curvature.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-16, a second embodiment of an exit trough 200is shown. Like parts to parts in exit trough 100 are identified by thesame reference numerals noted above for exit trough 100. Exit trough 200differs in two main respects. First, instead of downspout 160, secondexit trough 200 includes a horizontal portion 202 leading from exittrough portion 244. Horizontal portion 202 includes a generallyhorizontal bottom 204 and two upstanding sides 206, 208 leading fromexit trough portion 244. Two side ribs 264, and a center rib 266extending from bracket portion 102 support horizontal portion 202.Horizontal portion 202 is useful for linking lateral trough section 20to other cable routing components interconnectable to horizontal portion202 through any suitable means. Fastener recesses 210 are shown as oneexample of suitable structures for mounting to other components.

A second main difference between the second exit trough 200 and thefirst exit trough 100, is that lead-ins 224, 234 and exit trough portion244 are sized to define larger cable pathways 230, 240, and 252.Specifically, upper surface portions 226, 236 and flanges 228, 238 aresized for defining the larger pathways 230, 240 relative to pathways130, 140 of first exit trough 100. Also upstanding sides 248, 250 aretaller and spaced further apart to define larger pathway 252 relative topathway 152 of first exit trough 100. This illustrates that relativesizes of the features of exit troughs 100, 200 can be varied dependingon the cable routing needs in the system.

Each of the disclosed exit troughs 100, 200 allows for exit pathwaysfrom the lateral trough section 20 without modification to the lateraltrough section 20. This is useful during initial system setup, and alsoduring modifications of the system at later dates. Exit troughs 100, 200can be added at any time quickly and easily. Cable damage is avoidedsince any cables in lateral trough section 20 are not disturbed and donot have to be moved when exit troughs 100, 200 are added. Also, simplefasteners are all that is needed to mount the bracket portion 102 of theexit troughs 100, 200 to the lateral trough section 20. In addition tothe downspout 160, and the horizontal portion 202, other directionalcomponents are possible from exit trough portions 144, 244 of each exittrough 100, 200.

Having described the present invention in a preferred embodiment,modifications and equivalents may occur to one skilled in the art. It isintended that such modifications and equivalents shall be includedwithin the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

1.-7. (canceled)
 8. A cable exit device for positioning on an upstandingside of a lateral cable trough extending along a first directionhorizontal to the ground, the upstanding side having a substantiallyuniform height extending between a first end and a second end of thelateral cable trough and terminating at a top edge, the cable exitdevice comprising: a first exit path having a first curved cable-guidingsurface that extends at least partially over a base of the lateral cabletrough; and a bottom wall having a second curved cable-guiding surface;wherein the first surface curves upward relative to the base of thelateral cable trough and defines a top surface of a cable path, andwherein the second surface is convexly curved and defines a bottomsurface of the cable path; and wherein the first curved surface and thesecond curved surface are both curved to maintain a cable minimum bendradius, wherein the first exit path leads over the top edge of theupstanding side of the lateral cable trough when the exit device ismounted to the lateral cable trough, and wherein the cable exit devicedefines an opening that is accessible along the entire length of thefirst exit path so that additional cables can be routed in the firstexit path without having access to either end of the additional cables.9. The cable exit device of claim 8, further including at least oneadditional cable-guiding surface positioned over the base of the lateralcable trough and spaced from the second curved surface, the additionalsurface defining at least a portion of the cable path.
 10. The cableexit device of claim 9, wherein the additional surface is on a flangethat extends from the first curved surface.
 11. The cable exit device ofclaim 9, wherein the additional surface is flat.
 12. The cable exitdevice of claim 8, wherein a bottom portion of the first curved surfaceis located higher than the top edge of the upstanding side of thelateral cable trough when the exit device is mounted to the lateralcable trough.
 13. The cable exit device of claim 8, wherein the secondcurved surface provides up to an approximately 180 degree cabletransition.
 14. The cable exit device of claim 8, wherein the firstcurved surface curves about a first axis that is substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction.
 15. The cable exit device of claim13, wherein the second curved surface curves about a second axis that issubstantially perpendicular to the first axis.
 16. The cable exit deviceof claim 8, wherein the first curved surface curves from a directionsubstantially parallel to the lateral cable trough to a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the lateral cable trough.
 17. The cableexit device of claim 8, wherein the cable path defines a portion of thefirst exit path.
 18. The cable exit device of claim 8, furthercomprising a side wall having at least a portion extending from thesecond curved surface, wherein the first curved surface extends from theside wall, and wherein the side wall defines a side surface of the cablepath.
 19. A cable exit trough mountable to a lateral cable trough, thelateral cable trough defining a cable pathway horizontal to the groundand having an upstanding side of substantially uniform height from afirst end to a second end of the lateral cable trough, the exit troughcomprising: a body having a bottom surface including a curved bottomsurface portion leading upwardly with respect to the lateral cabletrough while maintaining a cable minimum bend radius, the bottom surfacedefining a bottom of a cable exit pathway; the body further having anupper cable-guiding surface positioned over a bottom of the lateralcable trough when the exit trough is mounted to the lateral cabletrough, the upper surface having a curved upper surface portion whichleads upwardly with respect to the lateral cable trough and defines atop surface of a cable pathway, the curved upper surface portion beingsufficiently curved to maintain the cable minimum bend radius; wherein,when mounted to the lateral cable trough, the cable exit pathway leadsover the upstanding side of the lateral cable trough; and wherein theupper surface does not extend below the top of the upstanding side ofthe lateral cable trough.
 20. The cable exit trough of claim 19, furtherincluding a first side wall surface extending from the bottom surface,the side wall surface defining at least a portion of the cable exitpathway.
 21. The cable exit trough of claim 20, further including asecond side wall surface extending from the bottom surface opposite thefirst side wall surface.
 22. The cable exit trough of claim 20, whereinthe upper surface extends from the first side wall surface.
 23. Thecable exit trough of claim 19, further comprising an additional surfacepositioned over the bottom of the lateral cable trough and spaced fromthe bottom surface of the body, the additional surface defining at leasta portion of the cable pathway defined by the curved upper surfaceportion.
 24. The cable exit trough of claim 23, wherein the additionalsurface is on a flange defining a side surface of at least a portion ofthe cable pathway defined by the curved upper surface portion.
 25. Thecable exit trough of claim 19, wherein the curved upper surface portionof the upper surface curves about a first axis that is substantiallyperpendicular to a longitudinal dimension of the lateral cable trough.26. The cable exit trough of claim 25, wherein the curved bottom surfaceportion of the bottom surface curves about a second axis that issubstantially perpendicular to the first axis.
 27. The cable exit troughof claim 19, wherein the upper surface curves from a direction generallyparallel to a longitudinal dimension of the lateral cable trough to adirection generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of thelateral cable trough.
 28. The cable exit trough of claim 19, wherein thebottom surface has a first curved portion leading cables upwardlyrelative to the lateral cable trough, and a second curved portionleading cables cable downwardly relative to the lateral cable troughuntil the cables reach a substantially vertical direction.
 29. A cablerouting system, comprising: a) a lateral cable trough extendinghorizontal to the ground including an unslotted upstanding side ofsubstantially uniform height between a first end and a second end of thelateral cable trough, the upstanding side terminating at a top edge; andb) a cable exit assembly releasably mounted to the lateral cable trough,the cable exit assembly including: i) an exit trough portion having acurved cable supporting surface that defines at least a portion of acable exit pathway for routing a plurality of cables, the cablesupporting surface being curved so as not to violate a cable minimumbend radius, the cable supporting surface including a first curvedportion leading upwardly with respect to the lateral cable trough and asecond curved portion leading downwardly with respect to the lateralcable trough; ii) a first lead-in portion and a second lead-in portionon opposite sides of the exit trough portion, wherein the first lead-inportion includes a first upwardly curved cable guide surface and thesecond lead-in portion includes a second upwardly curved cable guidesurface, each of the first and second guide surfaces defining a topsurface of a cable path and positioned over a base of the lateral cabletrough when the cable exit assembly is mounted to the lateral cabletrough, and wherein each of the first and second lead-in portionsfurther includes at least one additional cable guide surface positionedover the base of the lateral cable trough and spaced from the upstandingside to allow cables to pass between the additional surface and theupstanding side when the cable exit assembly is mounted to the lateralcable trough; c) wherein, when the cable exit assembly is mounted to thelateral cable trough, the cable exit pathway leads over the unslottedupstanding side of the lateral cable trough.
 30. The cable routingsystem of claim 29, wherein each of the additional surfaces is on aflange.
 31. The cable routing system of claim 30, wherein each of theflanges of the first and second lead-in portions is flat.
 32. The cablerouting system of claim 29, wherein each of the additional surfacesextends from one of the first and second upwardly curved cable guidesurfaces.
 33. The cable routing system of claim 29, wherein each of theadditional surfaces is flat.
 34. The cable routing system of claim 29,wherein each of the first and second upwardly curved cable guidesurfaces curves from a substantially horizontal orientation to asubstantially vertical orientation when the cable exit assembly ismounted to the lateral cable trough.
 35. The cable routing system ofclaim 29, wherein the first upwardly curved cable guide surface curvesabout a first axis, and wherein the second upwardly curved cable guidesurface curves about a second axis, and wherein the first axis and thesecond axis are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal dimensionof the lateral cable trough.
 36. The cable routing system of claim 35,wherein the curved cable supporting surface curves about a third axisthat is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and to the secondaxis.
 37. The cable routing system of claim 29, wherein the cablesupporting surface provides up to an approximately 180 degree cabletransition.
 38. The cable routing system of claim 29, wherein a bottomportion of the each of the first and second curved cable guide surfacesis located higher than the top edge of the upstanding side of thelateral cable trough.
 39. The cable routing system of claim 29, whereinthe cable exit assembly further includes an inner projecting flangeextending from the cable supporting surface into the lateral cabletrough adjacent an inside surface of the unslotted upstanding side sothat cables passing between at least one of the additional surfaces andthe unslotted upstanding side also pass between the at least one of theadditional surfaces and the inner projecting flange.
 40. The cablerouting system of claim 39, wherein the exit trough portion includesfirst and second side walls extending from opposite sides of the cablesupporting surface.
 41. The cable routing system of claim 40, whereinthe first upwardly curved cable guide surface extends from the firstside wall, and wherein the second upwardly curved cable guide surfaceextends from the second side wall.
 42. A cable exit trough forpositioning on an unslotted upstanding side of a lateral cable troughextending along a first direction horizontal to the ground and defininga cable pathway, the upstanding side having a substantially uniformheight extending between a first end and a second end of the lateralcable trough and terminating at a top edge, the cable exit troughcomprising: a first cable guiding surface defining at least a portion ofa cable exit path, the cable exit path leading over the top edge of theunslotted upstanding side and extending away from the lateral cabletrough in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first directionwhen the cable exit trough is positioned on the lateral cable trough; asecond cable guiding surface intersecting the first cable guidingsurface, the second cabling guiding surface having a curved portionextending at least partially over a base of the lateral cable trough andcurving upward relative to the base of the lateral cable trough, whereinthe curved portion of the second cable guiding surface defines a topsurface of a cable path when the cable exit trough is mounted to thelateral cable trough, and wherein the second cable guiding surface doesnot extend into the lateral cable trough.
 43. The cable exit trough ofclaim 42, wherein the first cable guiding surface includes a convexlycurved portion and an uncurved portion.
 44. The cable exit trough ofclaim 43, wherein the curved portion of the first cable guiding surfacedoes not extend into the lateral cable trough when the cable exit troughis mounted to the lateral cable trough.
 45. The cable exit trough ofclaim 42, wherein the first cable guiding surface is on a first sidewall that defines a first side of the cable exit path.
 46. The cableexit trough of claim 42, wherein the second cable guiding surfacedefines the top of a lead-in pathway that assists in transitioningcables from the lateral cable trough into the cable exit trough.
 47. Thecable exit trough of claim 42, wherein the cable path defines a portionof the cable exit path.
 48. The cable exit trough of claim 42, furthercomprising an additional cable guiding surface positioned over the baseof the lateral cable trough and spaced from the unslotted upstandingside when the cable exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough,the additional surface defining at least a portion of the cable pathdefined by the second cable guiding surface.
 49. The cable exit troughof claim 48, wherein the additional surface is on a flat flangeextending from the second cable guiding surface and extending into thelateral cable trough.
 50. The cable exit trough of claim 42, wherein thecable exit trough is spaced apart from a second upstanding side of thelateral cable trough when the cable exit trough is positioned on thelateral cable trough.
 51. The cable exit trough of claim 42, wherein thecable exit trough defines an opening that is accessible along the entirelength of the cable exit path so that additional cables can be routed inthe cable exit path without having access to either end of theadditional cables.
 52. The cable exit trough of claim 42, wherein thecable exit trough does not enclose a section of the cable pathway whenthe exit trough is mounted to the lateral cable trough.
 53. The cableexit trough of claim 42, wherein the cable exit trough does not extendacross the cable pathway.
 54. The cable exit trough of claim 42, whereinthe cable exit path narrows as the cable exit path leads away from thelateral cable trough.
 55. The cable exit trough of claim 42, wherein thecable exit trough narrows as it extends away from the cable pathway. 56.The cable exit trough of claim 42, further including a third cableguiding surface extending from the first cable guiding surface, whereinthe third cable guiding surface defines at least a portion of the cableexit path, and wherein the third cable guiding surface includes a curvedportion that transitions to a direction substantially perpendicular tothe first direction.